“Stephen Fry Into Ukraine” Is a Movie on Resilience, Humor and Mental Health Amid Existential War

Stephen Fry, a famous British actor, writer, and comedian, presented a documentary called “Stephen Fry Into Ukraine” on his visit to Ukraine, which was focused among other things on mental health. He arrived on September 4 where he was introduced to the reality of living in a country going through existential war. 

Stephen Fry was invited to Kyiv by First Lady Olena Zelenska to co-host a conference on mental health in a time of war “The Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen”, which was held in the fall of 2023. During his journey, he visited a hospital and a stand-up club, met with Ukrainian soldiers, widows, families, and artists, and discussed with them what they were going through.  

While in Kyiv, Fry meets a surgeon from Luhansk, who lost her home twice and had her mother killed. He meets soldier patients, who had to have their limbs amputated.

The movie, although filled with human pain and suffering, is intertwined with humor, a key way to cope with difficulties.

When asked about mental recovery, a soldier, whose leg was amputated said: “First of all, I am from Odesa, that is why I think about it this way: I did not lose my leg, I exchanged it for benefits of free parking.”

Fry experiences the air raid alert for the first time at 3 in the morning, while being at the hotel and visits a stand-up club, where he sees with his own eyes the importance of humor in difficult times.

Stephen Fry's "Into Ukraine" not only sheds light on the profound challenges faced by a Ukrainians in their fight against Russia, but also highlights the invincible spirit of its people. A beautiful blend of empathy, humor, and resilience, Fry's documentary captures the essence of how Ukrainians navigate the harsh reality of war.

The movie can be watched on Stephen Fry’s YouTube channel.